One thing I ask of Adonai, only that do I seek: to live in the house of  Adonai all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of Adonai, to frequent Adonai’s temple.  Psalm 27:4.

This past month, some of our congregants sat down to study the history and liturgy of the High Holy Days with me.  They learned that many Jews read psalms during the month of Elul – most particularly  Psalm 27.

The psalms are a collection of heartfelt prayers.  They range from laments to joyful celebrations.  Their authors express the full gamut of human emotions, from despair to celebration, from longing to untrammeled hope.

During our study time together I asked everyone to try writing their own psalms as part of their preparation for High Holy Days.    Imagine Rosh Hashanah as a celebration – the birthday of all creation.  Imagine Yom Kippur as a time when you could embrace the opportunity to examine and cleanse your spirit and soul.  What might you want to ask God for?  What joy might you want to express?

I include, with permission from its author, and for inspiration, the first psalm I received.

The author, Cheryl Greenwald, chose to use El Shaddai, one of our many names for God in the Tanakh, in her psalm.

El is an ancient term that means, simply, “god.”  Most scholars believe that Shaddai harks etymologically (perhaps) to an ancient semitic word for “mountains.” Thus, “God of the mountains.”  Some have also suggested that shaddai actually refers to fertility (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Shaddai).  In either case, this psalm suggests that God is a protecting, nourishing force.

Are there other psalms waiting to be written as we prepare for the Days of Awe?

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Barbara

If I ask God for comfort
 El Shaddai
Will answer and comfort
If I ask for forgiveness
 El Shaddai
Answers and forgives
If I ask that no man, woman or child be abused
 El Shaddai
Will hear me
Where can we go and be safe?
El Shaddai
Will find a place
El Shaddai
Will comfort us
Praised are You who O Lord, who brings us comfort